Grader Grass

Appearance

This species is an annual grass growing up to 2 metres tall. The usually folded leaves are up to 60 centimetres long. The seed heads are rounded or fan-shaped and are accompanied by leaflike bracts.

The grass becomes orange, red, or golden brown at maturity. The clustered spikelets in the seed heads have some tubercle-based hairs and twisted awns, which can be up to 5 centimeters long. The awn is hygroscopic, twisting when moist and drilling the seed into the soil. This species is similar to ''Themeda triandra'', a native species which tends to be smaller and more brown in color.

Grader grass is a prolific producer of seed; there can be up to 1000 seeds in a single seed head. The seed is dispersed by graders, on fur and clothing, and as a contaminant of pasture seed supplies. The seed is sometimes found as a contaminant of bird seed, as well.